Read Our Reviews

The SmartGuard Elite does what it is designed to do. I have tried several different night mouth guards for bruxism over the years and this is the most comfortable one yet. I followed the directions and had no trouble molding it to fit my mouth.

J.A. Hernandez

My TMJ issues stem from an open bite problem more than TMJ joint issues. I also have severe clenching and grinding at night. After over 20 years of seeking treatment from my dentist and receiving many dental appliances, my problem got worse. A LOT worse. I was at my wits end and I came across the SmartGuard by Dr. Spainhower. It has been nothing short of a godsend. I have used all of the night guards he has created and I have loved every one of them. I had no idea that my jaws could relax to this level. The night guards have actually improved my bite as well. I just recently ordered the new SmartGuard Elite and it is wonderful. I love how the new guard helps keep my tongue back, which allows my jaws to relax even more. I noticed that my bite is actually improving as well. I am also sleeping better. It seems to mimic what it feels like to have a good bite. I highly recommend this night guard. Give it a try. It is AMAZING!!

Peaches200

This product really does work. I have suffered from TMJ for several years and wearing this at night is the only thing that seems to consistently help. The molding process can be a bit difficult, but it seems to fit well and the product seems to last well (as long your dog doesn’t eat it, as happened with the first one I purchased.)

Pat Suyak

I love the New Improved SmartGuard Elite! What to expect…It’s comfortable (not too hard, not too soft) – stays in place (Fits firmly) – doesn’t cause gagging (also, doesn’t rub against your gums, irritating them). The SmartGuard fits in the front of your mouth only (This isn’t completely clear on the pictures) and prevents your teeth from touching. No more headaches. No more sore muscles in my jaw and neck. ( I would wake up with severe headaches, from clinching my teeth together-not a great way to start the day.) I have previously used four different brands….
The other brands go all the way in the back of your mouth and caused me to gag, build up saliva or didn’t fit right. I usually ended up not being able to fall asleep and just took them out of my mouth, during the night. Once I actually woke up with my mouth guard chewed up into a ball. I absolutely encourage you to try the SmartGuard Elite. (Make sure you buy the New Improved!)

iambatman

I received the new and improved SmartGuard elite last week after having the original SmartGuard for a couple of weeks. I really like the original but the improved elite is even better, it’s great for smaller mouths and has a low profile fit that is not bulky like a lot of night guards. It fits in the front if your mouth and won’t allow your molars to touch at all. It is very easy to boil and fit, the material is soft and not hard plastic like other guards. The customer service was also excellent; I would highly recommend this night guard.

T. Hanson

I love the new improved smart guard it’s so comfortable… Since I started using this I have been sleeping do good I wake up feeling great no more headaches from clenching all night…. My jaw isn’t sore anymore.

Kimberly

I have had jaw pain on and off for several years. When I wake up in the morning my jaw is tight and sore. A year ago I decided to try the Original SmartGuard. I noticed less jaw tenderness; however, I found it difficult to wear the guard consistently because of how bulky it is. After a while I stopped wearing it. A few months later my jaw popped while eating and I had significant pain. I hesitantly decided to try the “New and Improved SmartGuard Elite”. However, to my surprise, I am very satisfied. It is a much better guard. I hardly notice it, as it is very comfortable. Also I have little to no jaw pain throughout the day. I highly recommend this New Improved SmartGuard

Whitney

READ THIS-I WAS NOT WEARING MINE ON A NIGHTLY BASIS TILL NOW…..NEW DESIGN CHANGED THAT!!!!!! I had the original SmartGuard and after I molded it the front corners seemed bulky and pokey. It was also long and could irritate the upper lip and make it sore. I also had trouble with my tongue getting stuck in the gap in the back. I tried remolding it but I still had the same results. THIS ONE IS AWESOME!!! It molded PERFECT on the first try. It’s not as long under the lip and the edges under the lip are more rounded and smoother. The bulky/pointy corners are gone. They did something with the gap in the back so when you mold it there is no gap. No more stuck tongue. I love this design and I would get another one when and if I wear this one out. I feel as though I get better relief with this model because the comfort level is improved 100% so I do wear it every night now. I AM SO HAPPY!!!!

Ethel Thayer

This is the only night guard that doesn’t wind up on the floor every night. It’s kind of like a shock absorber, it is mainly the moldable thermoplastic around the teeth and gums which thins out when molded, and the bottom is made of a little bit harder plastic, and if you bite down it is sort of bouncy without being bulky. It fits in the front, just past the canines. I have tried other over the counter guards, and had even recently gotten one from my dentist, which was hard and awful. That was bulky and felt like it was pulling on my back teeth. I am thankful for this guard; it is the best by far. Way less bulk, no pulling or pushing on my teeth, but it fits and isn’t wiggly. It is a piece of plastic in your mouth, so it might feel a little funny at first, but it is NOT uncomfortable. It isn’t so big that I can’t close my mouth, and my lips get dried out. I clench and grind and it has helped with both.

A little bit of advice, watch the video. It’s short, and worth it. Also, prepare all of your supplies, maybe even have a helper to work the timer. Lastly, practice, run through it a couple times before you actually start. I felt a little rushed when I did it, but if it doesn’t work the first time, try it again. Remember the cool water for your fingers, too! It’s really worth the time, money, and effort. The one from my dentist doesn’t hold a candle.

Momma J.

I have been wearing my new TMJ SmartGuard for about one month now and I definitely have to say that it beats my other, custom-made, mouth guard hands down. The first noticeable difference I experienced with the SmartGuard was that it immediately felt more comfortable in my mouth. This is because the SmartGuard is smaller and less cumbersome than my custom-made guard. I didn’t expect a self-molded guard to fit as well as one modeled by a dentist but in fact it fit very well and has not fallen out of my mouth once since I started wearing it.

Another thing that I prefer about SmartGuard’s design is that his guard prevents my back teeth from touching at ALL, which my other custom-guard does not, so with the Smartguard I am prevented not only from grinding the enamel off my teeth but also from clenching my jaw at the back which I believe is the reason I no longer have any jaw or joint pain. It’s great to wake up in the morning feeling less tension in my face and to be experiencing fewer headaches as a result!

I’m surprised and pleased that someone has created such an affordable alternative to the custom-made guard.

Michelle R.

I would like to thank you for sending me the SmartGuard Night Guard. I have suffered from TMJ for many years and have used expensive bite guards that have been made by dentist. They have to be replaced quite often for me because my bite changes frequently and it gets really expensive. I am a tonsil cancer survivor and also suffer from a limited jaw opening as a result of radiation therapy. I have been experiencing jaw pain, neck pain, and headaches for over 13 years now.

I started using the SmartGuard a few weeks ago and experienced relief from my jaw pain and tension pains in my neck after using the Night Guard for just a few hours. My headaches completely disappeared. The process of custom fitting the Night Guard was quick and easy. Although the Night Guard is somewhat thicker than my usual hard plastic bite guard my dentist makes it took only a few hours to get used to wearing the it and now I am quite comfortable while wearing the Night Guard. I would like to thank you for providing me with an effective, comfortable, and affordable alternative to relieving my TMJ related pain.

Charlotte

I apologize for the delay in writing you, but I wanted to be sure I gave the SmartGuard a good test period before giving my opinion. And….. It is wonderful! Thank you so much for developing this. At first I was worried about the small size, but after the simple molding process and break-in period it stays put as it should. The small size eliminates one of the main problems I have had with mouth guards before this: GAGGING! Before SmartGuard I was unable to keep anything in for long enough to do any good. The SmartGuard stays in place, doesn’t irritate my gums and provides a stable base for my teeth. All without making me gag.

Finally I am finding some relief from my TMJ disorder, which is caused mostly by stress grinding. Because it is so small and comfortable I feel confident wearing it at work, a busy office….which is another place I find myself grinding/gritting my teeth. I have tried just about every other OTC mouth guard at all range of prices, both the moId-it-yourself and the adjustable kind. None come close to the comfort and relief I am experiencing with SmartGuard. I haven’t gone to the dentist for a custom fit guard because of the expense (which it isn’t covered by my insurance), but now I don’t feel that I need to.

Andrea

The night guard has been very helpful. I have tried other night guards that didn’t stay in my mouth because they were not “thick” enough after being heat-set.

This night guard is very sturdy and stays in my mouth. My husband told me I don’t snore when I have it in, so he loves that I am wearing it. I clinch my teeth during sleep, and this night guard keeps me from doing that. It has relieved the pressure a considerable amount.

I am so glad for this solution that is not very costly.

Leah

The night guard works great. I first went to buy a football night guard at the Sporting goods store to protect by teeth from getting crushed as I clench my teeth a lot and my teeth have been crumbling, but when I heard that you recommended the SmartGuard, I tried it. And now I don’t have any headaches anymore, and I’ve had chronic headaches for years and years.

I’ve had headaches 24/7. Doctors have treated me with medications, pain killers, and muscle relaxers, and even trigger point injections in my back. I haven’t had a headache since I started wearing your night guard. It’s nice not to have drugs in me, I’m not loopy anymore, and I wake up about 3 hours earlier because now I sleep more soundly. I usually am dragging in the morning because I don’t sleep well with my headaches. I used to sleep in until 9-10 O’clock in the morning, but now I wake up at 6 am…refreshed.

It is so nice. It’s comfortable too, the guard just knows where to stay, it fits good and stays in my mouth all night. It doesn’t fall out. I’m thankful, thank you.

Misty R.

Before wearing the SmartGuard, I would wake up in the middle of the night with a headache; during the day I had to apply warm corn bags to my jaw and often had to take Ibuprofen to ease the pain. I went to a TMJ specialist and was told I needed to wear 2 appliances, 1 for day and 1 for night, for 3-6 months, braces for an overbite and more appliances for the rest of my life. Total cost $8000 to $10,000. No mention of exercises or physical therapy.

The first night wearing the night guard I didn’t have any more headaches. After 2 nights my jaw didn’t ache during the day between meals. Today I am working on incorporating exercises into my daily routine. Thank you Dr. Spainhower for caring about those of us who suffer everyday with TMJ.

Donna B.

Over the years I have seen several different dentists and doctors for my TMJ problems. I have even tried different night guards that I bought from local stores which only made the TMJ worse. It wasn’t until I tried the SmartGuard that I finally found something that helped. My TMJ has grown increasingly worse over the years and with the clicking, locking, and severe pain I was willing to try anything new. The night guards instructions were very easy to understand and I had no problems molding it to my mouth. The first night I used it I was nervous because I wasn’t used to having my upper and lower teeth separated so much but the next morning I was very pleased to see that after only one night the clicking had really reduced. One of the nicest things was being able to yawn a little wider without being in severe pain. I had no problems keeping the guard in my mouth all night long. The gums behind my front upper teeth were a little sore and that was the only thing that bothered me. There is a definite improvement after having worn it only 8 hours. I still have some popping in the joint but am excited to see improvement every time I use it. The long term benefits of using this device are very exciting.

Sharon C.

While I thought the $50 was a bit pricey for this product, I can say that it was money well spent. I use the SmartGuard for TMJ. I was diagnosed with TMJ by my dentist, but was unable to come up with the $3,700 he wanted to make appliances. Using SmartGuard has helped my pain tremendously. It took a few weeks, but as long as I was consistently wearing it, I noticed a huge difference.

The one bit of advice I would give is to prepare the potential customers of the possibility of stiffness and moderate pain that will be felt when first using it. With the jaw being adjusted, it made me think that the appliance was doing more harm than good, but I decided to stay the course and am happy with the results.

Joseph L.

I have been using the Smartguard for a month now and I am so pleased. I have tried so many guards and this is the first that has worked for me. I did experience TMJ, headaches, ringing in ears, vertigo, neck pain and nausea throughout my days but not now. I strongly suggest this Smartguard for anyone who grinds or clenches. Who would have ever thought that this odd looking guard would have given me back my normal life?

Shannon

Yes the main purpose is to reduce TMJ symptoms and protect my teeth. I just got the guard 2 days ago and I already feel better. The only thing I’m struggling with is my bottom front teeth get sore and I get pools of saliva running out of my mouth. But I have a feeling once I get used to it this will improve. I used to have the NTI mouth guard. I kept chewing thru it and had to modify it all the time.

Sheldon

Very responsibly about the issue I was asking out and providing the details about how to molding and wearing the guard were very helpful whereas this night guard is the perfect night guard! It feels comfortable, not too big just perfectly mold in front of teeth only. I’d say is a new improvement guard against bruxism which’s worth to try it!

Russell Wong

I have to say this is a very good product its affordable and was shipped in a few days which was great because I have really bad tmj and lost my 600.00 tmj appliance that was made for me and I was very upset then I found this it’s one of the best product iv bought its worth it and if I lose this one I know SmartGuard is here and I don’t have to shell out a lot of money for it. So give it a try you will be happy with this product Thank you for making this product and making it affordable.

D. J. Kenberg

This guard prevents biting down and so your jaw is relaxed through the night. Huge difference from a traditional guard, and easy to form; wake up refreshed with jaw and teeth feeling comfortable.

Juillidame

I never thought I had a problem with clenching until I had a horrible experience with getting a bridge put on. The dentist really screwed it up and my teeth really hurt. On top of all that my jaw muscles were killing me. I thought it must have been the Novocain shot that was making my jaw muscles so sore. A friend suggested I try the Smart Guard just to make sure I wasn’t clenching. To my surprise after the first night my jaw muscles didn’t hurt any more. The guard is really comfortable and stays in my mouth really well. I highly recommend this to anyone who is clenching.

Andrea Durrant

First, the guard has done everything I wanted and then some. I could feel the bite adjustment happening early on, and the jaw pain (relatively mild for the most part) went away quickly (four days or so and it was totally gone). Oddly enough, the first day after I wore it, I had the worst jaw pain episode I’ve ever had.

I have absolutely no idea why that happened or if it was at all related to the SmartGuard, but the next day after the pain was substantially reduced and again after four days or so I had no jaw pain.

The ear stuffiness was slower going, but I felt progress after a few days. After 2-3 weeks or so, it was very, very mild (I had to think hard to even notice it) and after six weeks or so, it was gone (or at least reduced 95%).

I was even more impressed because here in Virginia it’s smack in the middle of allergy season, which usually causes all sorts of sinus problems. That’s why I bought another – I could feel the ears coming back slightly (very slightly, but I am sensitive to it) and in case it was the guard wearing out I wanted to have another.

Also, for what it’s worth, I found it very comfortable – I never had a problem sleeping with it and it never fell out. No sharp edges or anything either (and a lot of guards end up having little edges here and there that will cut or irritate your mouth if you don’t trim them). So altogether I’ve been extremely pleased – the thing works almost like magic.

I had become used to stretching my jaw almost subconsciously and now I feel no soreness or stiffness when I do it (which is out of habit and not necessity).

Also, even though denture cleaner tablets are very cheap, I alternated between rinsing with hot water and submerging in denture cleaner. It’s barely even discolored and doesn’t really show signs of use. Good care, I think, but it’s also a high quality piece.

As for the fork, my first attempt was with moderate force and it came off immediately in the water. The second time, I jammed the fork in as far as it would go (it didn’t go all the way through) and while it seemed stuck on there pretty well after one or two seconds in the water it slid right off.

I liked the idea of submerging it, even though the first one floated (upside down) and I got a great fit on that one. Still, I must have done something wrong. I just hope I can save somebody else the trouble – it’s probably a good idea to tell people to stick the fork all the way through. I was a little unclear as to how much pressure was needed – depending on the fork, you can encounter resistance pretty quickly even though you have a good ways to go to get through. I’ll let you know how it goes next time.

Thanks for all your help and especially for the quick response to this. I really do appreciate it and I have to say I am very happy with the relief I get from the SmartGuard.

Designed by a TMJ dentist, SmartGuard is an affordable and effective solution designed with patient comfort in mind. SmartGuard protects teeth and helps alleviate headaches and other symptoms associated with night-time grinding.